My 1998 ZX2 has decided to stop allowing me to decide where the air comes out. It only comes out the defroster. There are no sounds in the dash when I turn the ****. The AC, blower speed and temperature ***** feel and do what they are supposed to otherwise.

My Haynes manual says nothing about this on the newer Escorts.

Am I looking for a vacuum or electrical problem?

 

Because the system is designed to default to defrost mode with a loss of vacuum, suppose we start there. Look for a vacuum hose inside the vehicle that may have come off or may be leaking. If you can't find any inside start checking the hoses that go to the inside of the vehicle from the engine compartment. There should be a vacuum reservoir in the engine compartment that gets it's vacuum from a "T" or hose from the intake manifold.

 

Thanks Hanky, that was easy. Two little dried out and cracked hoses near the engine replaced and that problem was solved. I also replaced a few other cracked hoses and the engine runs smoother now, too. I am glad I didn't have to tear into the dash.

The next big problem will be to try to find the refrigerant leak in the AC system.